Assembling appaatus for liquid crystal displays

ABSTRACT

An assembling apparatus ( 20 ) for liquid crystal displays includes a base plate ( 21 ), a height adjustor ( 30 ) standing on the base plate, and a working table ( 25 ) supported on the height adjustor. The height adjustor can adjust the height of the working table relative to the base plate, so that the assembling apparatus can be conveniently used by operators with different statures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an assembling apparatus used to facilitate assembly of components of a product together, and particularly to an assembling apparatus used to hold and assemble components of a liquid crystal display (LCD).

2. Description of Prior Art

A process of fabricating an LCD generally comprises forming an LCD panel (known as a “cell process”), and assembling the LCD panel with other parts such as a backlight module, frame, etc. (known as a “modular process”). The modular process is generally accomplished using an assembling apparatus, which mainly has the functions of holding, turning over, and electrically testing the LCD under assembly.

Referring to FIG. 7, this shows a conventional assembling apparatus for LCDs as disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 463,692. The assembling apparatus 10 comprises a working table 11 and four standoffs 13. The standoffs 13 are fixed to four corners of an underside of the working table 11 respectively. Two cutouts 12 are defined at two opposite sides of the working table 11 respectively. The working table 11 is used to support an LCD 14 (shown in broken lines) thereon. The cutouts 12 are used to expediently place the LCD 14 on the working table 11 and lift the LCD 14 off from the working table 11. The standoffs 13 are used to stand and support the working table 11 on a plane surface (not shown).

In use of the assembling apparatus 10, the plane surface is a working surface of a standard table (not shown), and is located at a fixed standard height. An operator can stand or sit beside the standard table to use the assembling apparatus 10. However, because the height of the standard table is fixed, particularly tall or short operators cannot conveniently operate the assembling apparatus 10. This limits the range of operators that a manufacturer can select to work with the assembling apparatus 10.

Thus, an adjustable assembling apparatus which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an assembling apparatus with an adjustable height.

To achieve the above object, an assembling apparatus for liquid crystal displays comprises a base plate, a height adjustor standing on the base plate, and a working table supported on the height adjustor. The height adjustor can adjust the height of the working table relative to the base plate, so that the assembling apparatus can be conveniently used by operators with different statures.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembling apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the assembling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the assembling apparatus adjusted to a different height;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an assembling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side plan view of an assembling apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation of the assembling apparatus of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a conventional assembling apparatus, together with an LCD thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, this shows an isometric view of an assembling apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The assembling apparatus 20 comprises a base plate 21, a height adjustor 30 standing on the base plate 21, and a working table 25. The height adjustor 30 connects the working table 25 and the base plate 21, and is used to adjust the height of the working table 25 relative to the base plate 21.

Four standoffs 211 are fixed to four corners of an underside of the base plate 21 respectively, for supporting the assembling apparatus 20 on a standard table (not shown). To prevent the standoffs 211 from sliding on the standard table or scratching a surface of the standard table, the standoffs 211 are made of rubber material.

Also referring to FIG. 2, this shows an exploded view of the assembling apparatus 20. The height adjustor 30 comprises two opposite first supporting plates 22, two opposite second supporting plates 23, and a plurality of locking devices (not labeled) used to fix the first supporting plates 22 and the second supporting plates 23 together. The first supporting plates 22 are vertically fixed on the base plate 21 by screws (not shown). Each of the first supporting plates 22 defines four first through holes 221. The first through holes 221 are symmetrically arranged at an upper portion of the first supporting plate 22, in two vertical lines. The second supporting plates 23 are vertically fixed under the working table 25 by screws (not shown). Each of the second supporting plates 23 defines two lines of vertically arranged second through holes 231. A transverse distance between each two opposite second through holes 231 is the same as a transverse distance between each two opposite first through holes 221. Each locking device comprises a screw 241 and a wing nut 242, cooperating to connect and fix the corresponding first supporting plate 22 and second supporting plate 23 together.

The working table 25 defines two opposite first cutouts 251 which are used to expediently place an LCD (not shown) on the working table 25 and lift the LCD off from the working table 25. To protect the LCD from colliding with or rubbing the working table 25, a rubber cushion 252 is placed on the working table 25. The rubber cushion 252 can also prevent the generation of static electricity.

Also referring to FIG. 3, this shows how the height of the assembling apparatus 20 is adjustable. The height of the assembling apparatus 20 can be adjusted by aligning two desired transversely opposite second through holes 231 with two desired transversely opposite first through holes 221.

Because the height of the assembling apparatus 20 is easily adjusted, the assembling apparatus 20 can be conveniently used by operators with different statures. Each operator can work with the assembling apparatus 20 comfortably.

Referring to FIG. 4, this shows an isometric view of an assembling apparatus 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The assembling apparatus 40 has essentially the same structure as that of the assembling apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, but further comprises a holding device 46 placed on the working table 45. The holding device 46 defines a shallow, central recess 461 used to receive and hold an LCD. Two second cutouts 462 are defined at two opposite sides of the holding device 46 respectively. An opening 463 is defined in a peripheral wall of the holding device 46, the opening 463 communicating with the recess 461. A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) attached to the LCD can smoothly extend out of the holding device 46 through the recess 461, without being bent. The second cutouts 462 are used to expediently place the LCD in the recess 461 and lift the LCD off from the holding device 46. With this configuration, when the size of the LCD is changed, a manufacturer need only change the holding device 46, with no need to change other parts of the assembling apparatus 40. Thus, the costs of mass production are reduced.

Referring to FIG. 5, this shows an assembling apparatus 50 in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. The assembling apparatus 50 has essentially the same structure as that of the assembling apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, except that it further comprises two expansion tables 57, 58 (see FIG. 6) respectively connecting with two opposite sides of a working table 55. A plurality of screws 572 extends down through the expansion table 57 and a connecting plate 571, respectively. A plurality of screws 572 extends down through the working table 55 and the connecting plate 571, respectively. A plurality of wing nuts 573 is attached on the screws 572, so that the expansion table 57 is fixedly connected with the working table 55 via the connecting plate 571. A plurality of screws 582 extends down through the expansion table 58 and the connecting plate 581, respectively. A plurality of screws 582 extends down through the working table 55 and the connecting plate 581, respectively. A plurality of wing nuts 583 is attached on the screws 585, so that the expansion table 58 is fixedly connected with the working table 55 via the connecting plate 581. The expansion tables 57, 58 and the working table 55 together constitute a larger table for placing and assembling of an LCD with a larger size.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. An assembling apparatus for liquid crystal displays, comprising: a base plate; a height adjustor standing on the base plate; and a working table supported on the height adjustor, wherein the height adjustor can adjust the height of the working table relative to the base plate.
 2. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of standoffs fixed to an underside thereof, for supporting the assembling apparatus on a surface.
 3. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the standoffs are made of rubber material.
 4. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the working table comprises a rubber cushion placed thereon the working table, for buffering a liquid crystal display placed thereon and for preventing the generation of static electricity.
 5. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the height adjustor comprises two opposite first supporting plates, two opposite second supporting plates, and two pairs of locking devices, the first supporting plates vertically stand on the base plate, each first supporting plate defines two lines of vertically arranged first through holes, the second supporting plates vertically connect with the working table, each second supporting plate defines two lines of vertically arranged second through holes, and each of the locking devices is used to fix a corresponding one of the first supporting plates and a corresponding one of the second supporting plates together at selected of the first and second through holes.
 6. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the locking devices comprises a screw and a nut, the screw extending through a selected first through hole and a selected second through hole, and the nut engaging on the screw.
 7. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the working table defines two opposite cutouts, for expediently placing the liquid crystal display on the working table and lifting the liquid crystal display off from the working table.
 8. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the working table defines one cutout, for expediently placing a liquid crystal display on the working table and lifting the liquid crystal display off from the working table.
 9. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a holding device placed on the working table, the holding device being for receiving and holding a liquid crystal display thereon.
 10. The assembling apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one expansion table, the at least one expansion table and the working table together constituting a larger table.
 11. The assembling apparatus comprising: a base plate; a working table spatially supported on the base plate with an adjustable distance therebetween; and a holding device seated upon the working table; wherein the working table defines at least one notch in an edge region thereof and said holding device defines another notch, in another edge region thereof, partially in alignment with said notch vertically. 